Skip Bayless, a noted critic of LeBron James, recently expressed his dissatisfaction with James being named MVP of the 2024 Paris Olympics men’s basketball event. Bayless suggested that the award should have gone to Steph Curry, alleging that there was political maneuvering behind the scenes to secure the MVP for James.
LeBron James earned the MVP honor after leading Team USA to their fifth consecutive gold medal. During the tournament, James averaged 14.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 8.5 assists per game. Despite his impressive performance, Bayless claimed that Curry, who delivered standout performances with nine three-pointers against Serbia and eight more against France, deserved the accolade.
Bayless voiced his frustration in a video, questioning the fairness of the MVP decision. “Politics? Strings pulled? Tell me I’m wrong,” Bayless said, reflecting his belief that the award outcome was influenced by factors beyond performance.
Curry’s contributions were significant, particularly in the gold-medal match against France, where he scored 24 points and added five assists and two steals. Despite not winning the MVP, Curry was named to the Olympics All-Star Five, alongside James. Curry averaged 14.8 points per game, shooting 47.8% from beyond the arc, with 3.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.
Joining James and Curry on the All-Star Five were France’s Victor Wembanyama, Serbia’s Nikola Jokic, and Germany’s Dennis Schroder. Wembanyama led France with 15.8 points per game and also contributed 9.7 rebounds. Jokic played a key role in Serbia’s bronze medal run, averaging 18.8 points and 10.7 rebounds, while Schroder averaged 17.2 points and 7.5 assists for Germany.
As the 2024 Paris Olympics conclude, speculation surrounds whether James and Curry will return for future Olympic games. James has indicated he is unlikely to participate in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, stating, “I can’t see myself playing in Los Angeles 2028.” Curry has similarly suggested that this might be his sole Olympic appearance, declaring, “This is the one and done, baby. Gold medal. You do it like that.”
If both stars retire from Olympic play, James will conclude his career with three gold medals and one bronze, while Curry will finish with one gold.
